Tears of joy! Hammond captures third-straight football state championship
Many players celebrated together on the field and sidelines. Some celebrated alone.
And as Hammond defeated Laurence Manning 49-21 in the SCISA Class 3A football state championship game Friday night, the Skyhawks’ celebration featured many tears.
“I just thought about all the memories that I’ve had as a little kid playing football, coming up and winning three state championships,” senior linebacker Saul Diaz said. “It means so much to me.”
The Skyhawks (12-2) won their third straight title, 17th in school history and 11th since Erik Kimrey took over as coach in 2004.
Quarterback Jackson Muschamp threw for two touchdowns in the game played at Benedict College’s Charlie W. Johnson Stadium. Defender, tailback and top national recruit Jordan Burch had two rushing scores, while fellow senior Fabian Goodman recorded three interceptions.
And as the final seconds ticked off the clock, it was Diaz, Burch and Goodman sitting together and crying on the bench — an emotional and victorious end to their Hammond football careers.
“I’m not an emotional person,” Goodman said. “I don’t cry during movies or anything like that. Being my last high school game, I never felt this emotional. ... All my teammates were crying. I just wish it wasn’t my last game. I’m going to miss it.”
CJ Stokes scored twice and Bradley Dunn also found the end zone for Hammond. South Carolina football commitment Alex “Boogie” Huntley was active on the defensive line and scored on a two-point conversion catch.
Hammond dominated its SCISA competition this season. In 12 wins, the Skyhawks’ average margin of victory was 43 points.
Kimrey praised his seniors as being “great players and wonderful human beings,” and he wasn’t surprised to see such a show of emotion.
“It means they care,” Kimrey said. “It was a great year a lot of class with a first-class group of seniors. ... It means they challenged themselves and they care about the game of football, and they care about each other.”
Friday was the second time in three seasons Hammond defeated Laurence Manning in the title game. Hammond’s senior class closed out their career as part of 45 victories.
As Hammond players and staffers dispersed after a postgame team photo at midfield, it was Diaz and Burch still sitting together and sharing one final emotional moment.
“You just think back to everything we’ve done and you just know that we all love each other and we all got each other’s back,” Diaz said. “I just love them and I can’t say enough about them.”
LM-0-7-6-8—21
H-13-8-14-14—49
How they scored
1st quarter
H - Stokes 34 pass from Muschamp (kick)
H - Burch 7 run (kick failed)
2nd quarter
LM - Rowland 27 pass from Jordan
H - Burch 6 run (Huntley conversion)
3rd quarter
LM - Rowland kickoff return (kick failed)
H - Wilson 49 pass from Muschamp (kick)
H - Stokes 16 run (kick)
Fourth quarter
H - Dunn 4 run (kick)
H - Weston 8 run (kick)
LM - Rowland 4 run (Rowland conversion)
SCISA CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Friday
8-man
Andrew Jackson 44, St. John’s Christian 28
Class 3A
Hammond 49, Laurence Manning 21
Saturday
Class A
Thomas Heyward vs. Bethesda Academy, 1 p.m.
Class 2A
Hilton Head Christian vs. Trinity-Byrnes, 6 p.m.
This story was originally published November 22, 2019 at 10:25 PM.
